Talaton (St. James)

TALATON (St. James), a parish, in the union of Honiton, hundred of Hayridge, Collumpton and N. divisions of Devon, 3 miles (N. W. by N.) from Ottery St. Mary; containing 462 inhabitants. The parish comprises about 2100 acres, of which 87 are common: the London and Exeter road runs through it. Escott House, here, which was destroyed by fire in 1808, was erected in the reign of James II.; and several of the men employed in the work were tried by Judge Jefferies, and sentenced to be hanged in the parish, for having joined in Monmouth's rebellion. George III., and three of the princesses, were entertained in the mansion by Sir George Young, Bart., on the 14th of August, 1780. Escott is now the seat of the Kennaway family. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £32. 3. 1½., and in the gift of the Rev. R. P. Welland: the tithes have been commuted for £333; there is a parsonage-house, and the glebe contains 62 acres. The church is in the later English style, with a very handsome tower, and contains several canopied niches having figures of saints, and a beautiful wooden screen, with a flight of stone steps leading to a rood-loft. A church was erected at Escott, by Sir J. Kennaway, at an expense of more than £2000, and consecrated on the 8th of May, 1840; the east and west windows, of large dimensions, are embellished with painted glass. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the Founder. Dr. Thomas Sprat, Bishop of Rochester, was born here in 1636, his father being rector. Southcote, in the parish, was the occasional residence of Sir William Pole, the antiquary.